Rear-view mirror mounting



Patented Oct. y31, l93

PATE-NT ori-ice BEAR-VIEW Mmnon MOUNTING Glen A. Johnson, connersviue, rnd.,'assignor to Stant Manufacturing Company, Connersvlllc.4

Ind.

Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,473

2 Claims.

My invention relates to rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles and has for its object the provision of a new and novel arrangement of elements for clamping the mirror arm rigidly to the edge of a motor vehicle door and particularly the peripheral portion of the door which is formed into a ilange or lip. l

It is another object of my inv'ention to provide a mirror having a powerful clampingmeans whichA can be quickly and rigidly applied to the door flange, which does not become loosened by jolting and is substantially theft' proof.

Another object of my invention is 'the arrangement of the entire clamping means on the extreme end of the mirror arm in such a manner as to conceal the actual clamping mechanism within a hollow bracket.

A further object is the provision of a device of the class described in which the clamping means also comprises the means for permitting adjustment of the mirror arm and `provides suiiicient friction to retain the arm in any adjusted position.

The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawing land are hereinafter specifically described.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the clamp mechanism shown in unlocked position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the Vclamp mechanism shown in clamped position on the door flange.

Fig.v 3 is a section taken at line 3 3 on Fig. 1 and also showing the special wrench'in use on the clamping nut.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line @-6 of Fig. 1 and also showing the method of tightening the lock nut. f

Fig. 5 shows the complete device attached to the automobile door flange.

Fig. 6 isla perspective view of the clamping nut.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lock nut.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the lock -washer. v

Referring to the drawing in detail, 9 is a mirror encased in a metal shell into which is secured at II) an arm II. The arm II is threaded back a vshort distance at I2 andthe threaded portion is machined flat on each side at I3 and I3'. The substantially U-shaped bracket i4 is provided with a hole I5 and a turned down lip I6 the'lower edge of which is preferably in line with the axis of hole I5.v 'Through the hole I5 is loosely fitted a clamping nut Il which is threaded on the inside to fit the threaded portion I2 ofthe arm il. The clamping nut I'I is substantially tubular in shape;

the inside is threaded to fit threads I2 and the outside diameter extends rotatably through hole I5. The nut is provided at one end with an annular shoulder I8 of larger diameter than the hole I5. This provides a friction surface or seat I9 against the inside surface of the bracket. At a point on 5 the tubular portion of the clamping nut beyond the outside surface of the bracket I4 a hole 20 is provided for a spanner wrench. y

The extreme end of the arm. II is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 2l for holding the 10. clamping plate 22 which is riveted thereon loosely to permit rotation of the arm.

The clamping plate 22 is faced with a material such as fibre or rubber to prevent marring or slipping o n the painted surface of the automobile door 15 flange.

Also threaded on to the shaft II is the locking nut 23 which is provided with a counterbore 2d. This counterbore is of a suitable diameter to clear the outside surfaceof the clamping nut Il. The 2o bottom 25 of the counterbore 24 is of such depth that when it is in locking position against the clamping nut and washer the face bfthe lock nut does not contact the surface of the bracket. The washer 26 is provided with a hole to t the milled 25 portions I3 and I3 of the arm I I. This prevents rotation ofl the washer relative to the arm but. permits longitudinal movement thereof. Thus, when the lock nut 23 is tightened against clamping nut I'l and lock Washer 26 the rotation of the 30 lock nut is not transmitted to the clamping nut thus creating a holding meansfor the clamping nut during tightening of the lock nut.

To attach the 1bracket to an automobile door the lip I6 is placed behind the door ange 28 as illus- 35 trated in Fig. 2. The spanner wrench is then inserted in the hole 20 of nut I l and rotated in an anti-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3 until the bracket is clamped tightly on the door as shown in Fig. 2. The nut 23 is then tightened by a0 turning in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 4.

When the mechanism is in locked position as shown in Fig. 2, the arm II-may be rotated on its axis for adjustment of the mirror for proper vision. The nuts 23 and Il are locked securely 45 together upon the washer 26 and thus upon the threads I2. When the arm is rotated the shoulder I9 rotates against the bracket I4 and rivet 2| rotates within the clamping plate 22. The amount of friction is determined by the stiffness of the 50 bracket I4l and the degree to which the nut Il is tightened.

It will readily be seen that whereas I `have shown and described a device having right hand threads on the shaft, it would operate just as eifll 55 vsaid hole with the flange thereon abutting theA inside surface of the bracket adjacent said hole, a threaded rod extending through said clamping nut in threaded engagement therewith, a clamping plate carried on the end of the rod between the legs of said bracket, a lock nut also threadedly carried by said rod and adapted to engage said clamping nut to prevent rotation thereof relative to said rod, said lock nut being spaced away from said bracket when in locked position.

2. In combination with a substantially U- shaped bracket having a hole in one leg thereof, a tubular clamping nut carried loosely in said hole and having an annular shoulder thereon abutting the inside surface of the bracket adjacent said holea rod extending through said clamping nut in threaded engagement therewith, a clamping plate carried swiveliy on the end of said rod between the legs o! said bracket, said clamping nut having a wrench receiving portion extending be yond the outside surface of said bracket adjacent said hole, a lock nut carried on said rod in threaded 4engagement therewith and having a hoispaced from the'adjacent surface of said bracket 20 when in locked position.

GLEN A. JOHNSON. 

